Extensible suspending-frame.



R. K. FOX;

EXTENSIBLE SUSPENDING FRAME. APPLICATION FILED AUG.9,1915.

L g 1 a Z SHEETS-SHEET I.

o o o Patented July 10, 1917.

R. K. FOX.

EiiY-ENSIBLE SUSPENDING FRAME. APPLICATION FILED'AUG.9. 1915.

Patented July 10, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- wirbnemo panying drawings,

RALPH K. FOX, OF NORTI-IWOQD, IOWA.

1 EXTENSIBLE SUSPENDING-FRAME.

Application filed August 9, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH K. Fox, a citi- V Zen of the United States, residing at Northwood, in the county of Forth and State of a clothes line may be strung or curtains and quilts supported, the latter during the making of the quilt.

More specifically, it is an object to provide connecting means between the end bars and respective supporting bars and to hingedly connect the first named bars at each end of the frame in order to permit of their being readily folded to occupy the minimum amount of space when not in use.

Still more specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide the hinged end bars of the frame with inclined grooves or a series of spaced apertures to accommodate respectively the hooks adapted to support the clothes line, curtains or the like in various embodiments of the frame.

y The above and additional objects which will become apparent as this explanatory description proceeds, are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accomdescribed in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this application.

Withreference to the drawings, wherein there is illustrated the preferred embodiment of this invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which like characters of reference designate similar parts:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the frame of this invention as arranged for the suspension of a clothes line; 7

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same subject-matter taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective detail of an exten Specification of letters Patent.

Patented July 14), 1917.

Serial No. 44,578.

sible brace, the employment of which is desirable to prevent sagging of the frame;

Fig. lis a sectional detail of the adjusting means for the extensible bars, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view showing the device arranged for use as a quilting frame;

Fig. 6 is a detached elevational view of a pair of the hinged end bars;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the removable quilting frame bars;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective of a portion of one of the end bars showing the manner of mounting the curtain stretcher hooks, and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the same matter showing the manner of mounting the clothes line hooks.

In the embodiment of the suspending frame illustrated, there are employed a pair of extensible base members and a substantially similar upper member 16. Each of these members includes a pair of bars 17 and 18 which are slidably connected with each other through the medium of strap brackets or stirrups 19, one stirrup being carried by each bar to slidably embrace the coacting bar of the extensible members. Ad justment of the sliding bars 17 and 18 is made as shown particularly in Fig. 4:, through the use of a set screw 20' which extends through the bar 17 for frictional engagement with the coacting bar 18, in order to maintain the bars in any extended position.

The outer extremities of each of the bars forming the upper member 16 are reduced and have removably connected thereto through the medium of suitable bolts 21, connecting straps 22 which accordingly depend from each extremity of the composite member 16 for the support of the end members illustrated as a whole in Fig. 6 and designated 23, the somewhat shorter base members 15 having similarly secured thereto laterally projecting straps 24. The connections between the straps 24: and the end members 23 are made in each case by removable bolts provided with the wing nuts 25 to facilitate the operation of assembling or unjoining the frame.

The end member shown in Fig. 6 includes a pair of bars or legs 26 and 27, suitable hinge connections being formed at their upper member 16.

adjacent upper extremitiesbythe employment of a piece of strap metal QS-bentas indicated in this figure. The baror leg 26 is provided at each extremity with an aperture 29 which is adapted to be secured by the mentioned removable fasteners when positioned between the various connecting straps of the members 15 and 16. The pivoted bars 27 are adapted to be extended backward as supporting legs for the remainder of the structure'after the manner of an easel, as shown in Fig. 2. Braces securing the easel legs to their respective bars 26, when extended, include a strap 30 pivoted to each easel leg and formed at the opposite extremity with a key-hole slot 31 for removable engagement with a pin 32 adapted to pro ect from each corresponding bar 26. Since this pin would otherwise interfere with the complete folding of the legs 26 and 27, both the brace 30 and the adjacent portion of the leg 27 are recessed as denoted by the numeral for the reception of this pin 32 as may be readily grasped from Figs. 6 and 7. Braces 30- arepivoted to each member 26 in order to engage the upper horizon tal member of the frame in rigidly maintaining the alinement thereof. As thus set up, it will be apparent that-the end members may be readily separated by an extension of the base members 15 and of the A central brace illustrated in detail, in Fig. 3 and denoted by the numeral 34. includes a pair of sliding bars 35, the outer extremities of which are each rectangularly notched as denoted at 36 in order to contact with the opposed edges of the main frame, considering the latter to include the upper member 16 and the forward base member 15, such main frame being supported by the bars or legs 27 and the rearward base member 15. Stirrup brackets 37 are employed to slidably connect the bars 35 of this intermediate brace and an adjusting screw 38 is furnished with the wing nut to control the extension of these members.

Having thus set forth the main characteristics of the portable and adjustably extensible frame of this invention there now re mains to describe the manner of fitting the same for a number of particular uses, including embodiments as a clothes line supand a quilting frame. 7.

Both bars or legs of each of the end me1n V .be1's23are provided with a longitudinal inclined groove-39 near one edge and with a series of small recesses 40 ad acent the op- DOSItG-GClgGJ IOT the purpose of accommodatmg therein the respective hooks 41 and 4:2,

as is illustrated to advantagein Figs. 9. and

10. The books 4.1 are adapted to be-used,

for thGPUlPOSQOf stretching a curtain or S11111l511 11i310l6 between theend members 20 and 21 so that the K be suitablyadjusted for v,o uilting",purposes.

and are adjustable in the groove 39 in orby the pattern thereof. The hooks t2 are smaller-and are seatable within the spaced apertures 40 for the purpose of stretching clothes lines from one end memb'er'ito the other. Similar hooks 42 are also provided on each of the bars 35 comprising the central brace 34, as is shown in Fig. 3. 7

As is shown in Fig. 1 each. pair of horizontally alined hooks upon opposite end members are adapted to be connected with a separate rope or clothes line porton 43. Each of these ropes has a loop or eyelet 44 formed in one extremity for engagement with one of the hooks 42 of each stated horizontal pair while the opposite extremity 45 is secured in a plate 46 which is otherwise slidable upon the intermediate portion of the rope. Asshown in .Fig. 1, abight portion 47 between the extremities 44L and 45-may be formed upon each rope for: engagement with the remaining hook 452 of the bar tobe connected, by sliding an eyelet 48 toward the hook memberto be engaged in the'manner which should be-obvious. Each clothesline thus supported by a hook on each of the end members is individually extensible so that theportable framemay be set up in with muchgreater ease: and less lVhen adapting the supporting frame of this invention for quilting purposes the end members 23 should be removed and replaced by the shorter bars49 illustrated in Fig. 8 and adapted to beconnected in the obvious manner with the straps 22 and 24 of the upper member and one of the base members 15, respectively. A seriesof apertures and 16 to permit change of position of bolts extensible frame may From the foregoing, itshouldbe, apparent that theframe of-this invention isreadily portable, may-bereafdily taken apart, .and

as readily folded, as circumstancesmay. clictate. Each of the endJnembersLbei-ng se- {CUIQCl to a separate. member-of the upper bar, it will-be seen that when thelegs or bars ofsai-d, endmembers are-foldedupon themselves in; the manner of Fig. Gtheyean readily be folded uponthejparts of the upper. member to which they are. secured 50 are formedin each-of themembers 15 through the medium of the straps 22. In all cases a portable suspending frame is proyided, which is also eXtensibly adjustable in order to fulfil all the requirements of a clothes line support, a curtain stretcher, and a quilting frame in the manner set forth.

\Vhile in the foregoing, however, there has thus been illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification such combination and arrangement of elements as constitute the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is desired to emphasize the fact that such minor changes in the matters of proportion and degree may be made in later adaptations of this device as shall not alter the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

hat is claimed is 1. A suspending frame comprising an upper extensible member and two extensible base members, end members formed of two bars or legs pivotally connected together at their upper ends, separable and pivotal connections between one of the bars of each end member and the end of the upper member, separable connections be tween the lower ends of the same end bars and one of the base members, similar connections between the other base member and the remaining bars of the end members, a longitudinal slot in each of the first-named bars of said end members, a row of perforations in the same bars parallel to said slots and similar rows in the other bars of the end meu'lbers, hooks slidable in said slots for the attachment of fabrics to be stretched, and other hooks fitting in said perforations for the attachment of suspending cords or ropes.

2. A suspending frame comprising an upper extensible member and two extensible base members, end members formed of two bars or legs pivotally connected together at their upper ends, separable and pivotal connections between one of the bars of each end member and the end of the upper member, separable connections be tween the lower ends of the same end bars and one of the base members, similar connections between the other base member and the remaining bars of the end members, a longitudinal slot in each of the fir. t-named bars of said end members, a row of perfora tions in the same bars parallel to said slots and similar rows in the other bars of the end members, hooks slidable in said slots for the attachment of fabrics to be stretched, other hooks fitting in said perforations, and ropes adjustable longitudinally and adapted to be connected onto a hook in an opening in the opposite side members.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RALPH K. FOX.

l/Vitnesses:

ETHEL TOYE, G. WV. ALLANSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

